my review


Reading all your comments, instead of adding to them I just decided to write my own review.

Wow I cannot say enough about this remake and Yes it certainly continues to hold up after all this time keeping that wonderful fear factor as was in the original film!
Excellent filming angles. Outside night lighting looks to me like flood or maybe search lights with those huge shadows on the buildings. Dark areas and inside scenes fabulous and eerie just like you want them to be.

Cast rapport was wonderful. David drove me crazy with his therapy 'get some sleep'. I just wanted to punch him out haha. And Jack being so completely wired added to the story, especially at the party. Nancy and Jack were the perfect team.

I loved the 'swooshie heartbeat'. A wonderful addition absent in the original film. It was heard in pertinent scenes at different volumes when you are made to feel the infiltration presence.

Another great addition was the 'scream alarm'. When Elizabeth is hurrying to work, the man with the beard running across the street is quickly followed by a group and then for just an instant you hear the 'scream alarm'. However, as this was not present in the original film, you do not key in to this sound at that time. At least I didn't until I watched it a few more times.
I also believe that the 'scream alarm' can only be herd by Changed to warn other Changed. So as Elizabeth was late for work, she did not hear the sound. I compare the Changed to the movie 'John Carpenter's The Thing'. The blood is all one, all connected.

Not privy in the original film was how the infiltration began in detail. Beautiful space scenes and landing on our trees - dropping into our streams but heavy substance, reminds me of hair gel. I loved the perfect believable CG shots forming on the leaves, and the little flower was the perfect touch.

The school children are being requested to pick the flowers. But I did not get the impression that this was the first day after they arrived. I think it took a little longer to begin infiltration, Pods established, in the right places, etc. Nice cameo of Robert Duvall on the swing and then you briefly see the children through his eyes. Impressive.

Elizabeth mentions how fast the little Pod is taking root when she puts it on Geoffrey's nightstand. And I have decided that the Pod itself disintegrates after the Change, because Geoffrey Changed that night and was sweeping up the broken glass taking it completely away out of the house otherwise Elizabeth would have wanted to put it into another glass. I can also mention that the man with the hat in Ballicec's left the Pod just before Nancy escorted him out because you can hear it opening. Jack's new body formed however there was no empty Pod left over to be found.

Another nice addition was Jack's double opening it's eyes just as Jack went to sleep, and then when he was wakened they closed again. I loved it!!

It took me awhile before I finally figured out why Elizabeth's lips are so dried out wilting looking as she is carrying the potted Pod up the stairs. The plant's little 'hairs' are reaching her causing her to begin to Change. It was like the little 'hairs' reaching for Jack's hand in Ballicec's.

And wasn't it great to have the original movie's main question answered as the Changed Elizabeth emerges, her original body disintegrates in Matthew's hands right before his eyes.

As with any remake, I was glad to see what scenes transferred over like Jack's nose bleed vs Jack's cut hand, Matthew & Elizabeth hiding under stairs vs Miles & Becky hiding under slats and of course Kevin McCarthy's cameo made my day! It is beyond me why anyone would think this movie is boring but I do realize its subject is not for everyone.
Thumbs Up!

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